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Leading privateer ready to build on breakthrough season
Although the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International didn’t provide the perfect ending to his breakthrough campaign, Zac Soutar is determined to continue his upwards trajectory in 2023.
Driving the family-run, Spicers Australia-supported Honda Civic Type R TCR to a maiden win and three podiums in 2022, Soutar is keen for more and it could be in a new model as he eyes a shift for the new season.
“We as a team and family love TCR, my sponsors love it, it’s just awesome racing and you don’t get racing like this in any other category at the moment,” Soutar said.
“There are plenty of categories out there where you spend three-times the amount of money, but follow each other around whereas in TCR you can get in and have a crack.
“There’s nothing wrong with the Honda we’ve got at the moment, I’d be happy to stay in it for next year. I think we really learnt how to get the most out of it last season and I’d love to continue in it, but in saying that we’re also just seeing what our options are.
“If we sell the Honda, I’ll see what’s out there. But if we don’t, I’m happy to stick with it next year.”
Despite scoring success at the season opener at AWC Race Tasmania, but it wasn’t until the second half of the season when the Honda reached its potential Soutar recalled.
“In summary I’d say it’s still been a massive learning year,” he said.
“We probably won that race in Tasmania before we were ready to be really competitive as then it took us a little while to get back up there again. At Queensland Raceway and Sandown, we hit our straps through our understanding of the car where we knew what to do to make it fast.”
The next time Soutar lines up at Bathurst it will be as part of the TCR World Tour, an exciting development for the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series in its fourth season.
“I’m so excited for the TCR World Tour,” Soutar said.
“The fact us Australians can compete against the world’s best is going to be an incredible opportunity. I honestly think we’ll surprise as we have a strong field, which many may not realise and I think we will give the internationals a good run for their money.
“All the teams up and down pit lane are very professional, everyone knows how to get these cars go fast now and it’s going to be some spectacle.”